07 Jul 2014

North West District councillors have suggested that matimela livestock should remain the responsibility of councils and called for the review on their handling and sustenance fees.

They argued that their handling fees should be increased from P2 to P5, P5 to P10 while some councillors suggested an increase of P30 and P60 so that farmers could be motivated to care for their livestock.

Councillors were responding to a presentation on the Matimela Act by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele during the just ended council meeting.

They said matimela cattle should remain in custody kraals for two months only to cut costs. Cllr Moetetse Mogalakwe of Makalamabedi South said such livestock should be sold if unclaimed after two months to augment the council budget.

Cllr Pelokgale Monyame of Kubung ward said matimela livestock have proven to be a financial burden on councils and called on the government to come up with the best solution to address the issue instead of relocating the problem to other departments.

However, some councillors said matimela should be the responsibility of the tribal administration or the Ministry of Agriculture as they were best suited to oversee the livestock because of the nature of their job.

The majority of councillors  who argued against the idea said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was people centred hence councils were mandated to facilitate development programmes at local level and foster local democracy and governance while also promoting social welfare and economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups.

 They said to relocate matimela to bogosi or the Ministry of Agriculture would be denying councils the responsibility to create an enabling environment for improvement of the quality of lives of Batswana.

Earlier on, Minister Siele said since councils were the custodians of matimela, they found it fit to consult councillors about the act with a view to review the act or amend some clauses.

The act, he said, stipulates that animals were taken care of by the council from the time they were declared stray until the day of sale in the event their rightful owners do not come forth to identify them.

The minister said matimela have become a liability to councils as more resources were used to look after the stray animals.

Mr Siele focused on fees for drivers, handling and sustenance of the cattle, including the management issues.

He said given the escalating costs of maintenance and sustenance of livestock, expenses incurred by councils were becoming unsustainable. 

He noted that stray animals were placed in matimela kraals for six weeks and that the owner of an animal may claim such an animal at P2 per day. He said the sustenance fee was P3 per cattle.

He said even with proceeds from the sale of carcasses and hides of matimela, councils were still making losses, hence the decision by the government to review the law.  ENDS